Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

527. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if improvements will be introduced at an early date to the tenant purchase scheme to enable Part V tenants, and tenants in receipt of a social welfare payment who are in a financial position to purchase their homes, to participate in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1933/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.

The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V units are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that units delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains very important in promoting social integration.

In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland- Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the scheme’s operation is currently being undertaken by my Department. Details of how to participate in the public consultation process which will inform this review can be found at the link below:

.